Essay Question:
"It's the institutions stupid" (D.Rodrik)
Critically examine the contrasting approaches to the causes of growth in the developing world. (600+ words)
AIMS:
* To identify the conditions which contribute to Growth?
* To identify those nations most likely to succeed in this endeavour
• To analyse the performance of the NICS and assess the lessons of their experience for LDCs in general
• To assess the nature of growth in developing countries.
Reading:
Rodrik D "Growth Strategies" available at
https://www.hks.harvard.edu/fs/drodrik/Research%20papers/GrowthStrategies.pdf
See in particular Rodrik's most recent contribution to examining growth at
https://www.sss.ias.edu/files/pdfs/Rodrik/Research/Structural-Change-Fundamentals-and-Growth-An-Overview_revised.pdf
Acemoglu D and Robinson J.A. (2012) Why Nations Fail, New York: Crown
What does the lecturer expect from students?
• Introduction: What are you going to argue and conclude?
• Which countries comprise the NICs and what is remarkable about their progress?
• Which elements of economic policy do neo-classical writers highlight as being the main reasons for this growth?
• Is there evidence that these can explain the rapid growth?
• What do structuralist writers argue? Why do they argue that it is not possible to derive a universal blueprint for industrial success?
• What do they see as the structural obstacles that other poor countries will need to overcome?
• On balance what are the structural changes that are needed if countries are to harness their market potential and what is the role of the state in achieving this?
• Conclusion